Film no. 25 · 2021 · Craig era

No Time to Die

TMDB rating: 7.3 / 10 · View on TMDB

Plot

As a child, Madeleine Swann survives an attack on her family home by the masked Lyutsifer Safin. Years later she travels to Matera with retired agent James Bond. A bomb explodes at Vesper Lynd's grave, SPECTRE gunmen attack, and Blofeld makes Bond believe Madeleine betrayed him. Bond puts her on a train and ends their relationship.

Five years later Bond lives in Jamaica. Felix Leiter asks him to recover kidnapped MI6 scientist Valdo Obruchev in Santiago de Cuba. With CIA agent Paloma, Bond infiltrates a SPECTRE gathering. A cloud of nanobots apparently aimed at him instead kills Blofeld's followers: Obruchev has reprogrammed the DNA-targeting Heracles weapon for Safin. Aboard Leiter's ship, Logan Ash reveals himself as a traitor; Felix dies while Bond escapes.

Back in London, Bond learns about M's secret weapons project. Blofeld and the mercenary Primo's bionic eye lead him back to Madeleine. Bond unwittingly infects Blofeld with nanobots and kills him. In Norway he reunites with Madeleine and meets her daughter Mathilde, but Safin's men attack and abduct them. Bond and Nomi infiltrate Safin's island factory, free mother and child and open the facility for a missile strike. Safin infects Bond with nanobots programmed to kill Madeleine and Mathilde. Mortally wounded, Bond stays behind, says goodbye to his family and dies as the island is destroyed.

Facts

James Bond: Daniel Craig
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Screenplay: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Producers: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Music: Hans Zimmer
Title song: „No Time to Die“Billie Eilish
Running time: 163 minutes
Budget: $250 millionProduction budget according to The Numbers; other publications give figures as high as $301 million
Box office: $774 millionworldwide theatrical gross according to Box Office Mojo; The Numbers reports a differing total of $758,929,771
Release: UK: 30 September 2021US: 8 October 2021Germany: 30 September 2021

Travel route and filming locations

Gold numbers trace Bond's journey through the story, light markers show the real filming locations. Each layer can be hidden separately.

Bond's route · 8 stops

Total distance (great-circle)≈ 25,858 km

Bond and Madeleine spend part of their journey on the southern Italian coast and continue to Matera in the DB5.
Coast near Maratea → Matera / Civita Lucana · ≈ 108 km
Bond visits Vesper's grave; after the bombing, he and Madeleine flee through the fictionally named town of Civita Lucana.
Matera / Civita Lucana → Sapri railway station · ≈ 106 km
Bond puts Madeleine on a train and ends their relationship because he believes she betrayed him.
Sapri railway station → Port Antonio · ≈ 8,890 km
Five years later Bond lives in retirement in Jamaica; Felix Leiter and Logan Ash recruit him here for the Obruchev mission.
Port Antonio → Santiago de Cuba · ≈ 215 km
Bond meets Paloma and infiltrates the SPECTRE party with her, where Heracles destroys Blofeld's organisation.
Santiago de Cuba → Caribbean Sea, aboard Leiter's trawler · ≈ 117 km
Logan Ash betrays the group, abducts Obruchev and sinks the ship; Leiter dies while Bond escapes.
Caribbean Sea, aboard Leiter's trawler → London · ≈ 7,416 km
Bond returns to MI6, learns about Project Heracles, visits Q and interrogates Blofeld at Belmarsh.
London → Hakadal and Norway's Atlantic coast · ≈ 1,170 km
Bond finds Madeleine and Mathilde at the former family home; Ash and Safin's men attack them during their escape.
Hakadal and Norway's Atlantic coast → Norwegian NATO base · ≈ 81 km
Bond and Nomi depart in the C-17 from a base not named more precisely in the film; the marker uses Rygge as a regional reference.
Norwegian NATO base → Safin's island · ≈ 7,755 km
Fictional island disputed between Japan and Russia, housing Safin's nanobot factory. The marker sits on Iturup as a plausible geographic reference; filming used Kalsoy and Pinewood.

Filming locations · 24

Frozen lake and exteriors for Madeleine's childhood
Bond and Madeleine swim on the coast
doubles for Civita Lucana (Italy)
Hotel, Vesper's grave and the major DB5 chase
doubles for Civita Lucana (Italy)
Bond's bridge jump during the opening chase
Bond leaves Madeleine at the train
Bond's waterfront home in Jamaica
doubles for Santiago de Cuba harbour (Cuba)
Harbour where Bond meets Paloma and departs with Obruchev
doubles for Cuba (Cuba)
Floatplane and harbour shots
Cuban SPECTRE party, Safin interiors, major water and effects sets
Bond retrieves the Aston Martin V8 from storage
Bond returns to MI6
Security area and ministry interiors
Exterior of Q's home
Madeleine's practice and Safin's visit
Bond and M's conversation beside the Thames
Aerial exterior of Blofeld's prison
Bond drives to Madeleine; start of the pursuit
doubles for Norway (Norway)
Vehicle chase beside the loch and through the riverbed
doubles for Norway (Norway)
Open-country sections of the Norwegian off-road chase
doubles for Norway (Norway)
Forest fight against Ash's men
doubles for Norwegian NATO base (Norway)
C-17 departure and supposed NATO base
Aircraft and stunt filming
doubles for Safin's fictional island (fictional / at sea)
Coastal and island plates for Safin's base
HMS Dragon footage for the missile strike

Characters and cast

Bond

James BondDaniel Craig

Bond girls

Dr. Madeleine SwannLéa Seydoux

Villains

Henchmen

Allies

MI6

Others

Vehicles & Gadgets

Vehicles

Production example of the DB5 put through its paces in MateraPhoto: Alexandre Prévot · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin DB5
Car1964
Armour, miniguns, smoke screen and mini-mine dispenser
Bond and Madeleine drive the DB5 along the southern Italian coast and through Matera, where the heavily shot-up car deploys its new defences. Eight lightweight stunt replicas with bespoke running gear were built for the action, while two classic cars served for close-ups.
Driven by
James Bond
Specs
4.0 L straight-six, 282 bhp, over 150 mph
Sources: 007.com: Aston Martin DB5 · Aston Martin: DB5 heritage · Aston Martin: 2019 annual report
Production example of Bond's simple vehicle in JamaicaPhoto: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Series III 88
Car
Bond's open utility vehicle in Jamaica
The basic Series III belongs to Bond's retired life in Jamaica and carries him between his home, harbour and town. Its deliberately weathered appearance provides a grounded counterpoint to the gadget-laden Aston Martins.
Driven by
James Bond
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · Jaguar Land Rover: New Defender faces toughest test
Spirit Yachts Spirit 46
Boat
Bond's sailing yacht off Jamaica
Bond sails the elegant wooden yacht alone off Jamaica during retirement. The 46 is one of the British yard's early designs, combining classic lines with modern lightweight construction and regatta performance.
Driven by
James Bond
Specs
46 ft (about 14 m), sailing speed up to 18 knots
Sources: Spirit Yachts: 007 yacht · Spirit Yachts: No Time to Die partnership
Royal Alloy GT 125
Other
Scooter used for Nomi's approach in Jamaica
Nomi rides the classically styled scooter through Port Antonio and initially approaches Bond without drawing attention. Its retro shape recalls Italian steel scooters but comes from British brand Royal Alloy.
Driven by
Nomi
Specs
125 cc four-stroke single, automatic transmission
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMCDb: No Time to Die
Chevrolet Bel Air
Car1957
Classic car in the Jamaica sequence
The Bel Air forms part of the colourful streetscape around Bond's life in Jamaica. Its tailfins and chrome details make the 1957 model instantly recognisable even in brief shots.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMCDb: No Time to Die
Jaguar XFs pursue the DB5 through MateraPhoto: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jaguar XF
Car
Pursuit cars in Matera
Two Jaguar XFs chase Bond and Madeleine through Matera's narrow streets until the DB5 fights back. At least one original stunt car was offered in the official 2022 anniversary auction.
Driven by
Primo and SPECTRE agents
Sources: Jaguar Land Rover: No Time to Die charity auction · IMCDb: No Time to Die
Production example of the Scrambler 1200 XE from the Matera chasePhoto: Scottmcqueen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
Other2019
Motorcycle jump over the Matera wall
Primo pursues Bond on the Scrambler; Bond takes the bike and jumps it over a wall into the town. The stunt machine received adapted bodywork and was later auctioned for charity.
Driven by
Primo and James Bond
Specs
1,200 cc parallel twin, 89 bhp, 81 lb-ft
Sources: 007.com: Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE · Triumph: James Bond partnership
A Quattroporte IV joins SPECTRE's pursuit vehiclesPhoto: Brian Snelson · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Maserati Quattroporte IV
Car
Part of the Matera pursuit
The angular sports saloon is among the SPECTRE vehicles in the Matera attack and is driven hard through the tight old town. The model belongs to the fourth Quattroporte generation of the 1990s.
Driven by
SPECTRE agents
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMCDb: No Time to Die
A Thesis saloon forms part of the Matera convoyPhoto: Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lancia Thesis
Car
Another saloon in the Matera chase
A Thesis saloon adds to the attackers' mixed vehicle convoy in Matera. Its unusual front and tall body distinguish it clearly from the sportier pursuit cars.
Driven by
SPECTRE agents
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMCDb: No Time to Die
A V8 from the generation Bond retrieves from his London lock-upPhoto: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin V8 Saloon
Car1985
Bond's London car with registration B549 WUU
After Felix Leiter's death, Bond retrieves the V8 from a London lock-up and drives it to MI6 and later along Norway's Atlantic Road. Three cars were used; one sold for £630,000 in 2022, while the other two remained with Eon and Aston Martin.
Driven by
James Bond
Specs
5.3 L V8, 432 bhp, 146 mph
Sources: 007.com: Aston Martin V8
Land Rover Range Rover Classic
Car
Off-roader in the Norwegian pursuit convoy
An early Range Rover joins Safin's vehicle group in pursuit of Bond, Madeleine and Mathilde. The rugged classic links the film's older Land Rover generation with the new Defender 110.
Driven by
Safin's men
Sources: Jaguar Land Rover: New Defender faces toughest test · IMCDb: No Time to Die
A J90 serves as the escape vehicle for Bond and his familyPhoto: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J90
Car
Escape vehicle for Bond, Madeleine and Mathilde
Bond drives Madeleine and Mathilde away from the house in the ageing Land Cruiser and across the Norwegian landscape. Pursued by several newer off-roaders, it survives road, riverbed and forest before the family is separated.
Driven by
James Bond
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMCDb: No Time to Die
Production example of the Defender 110 used in the Norway chasePhoto: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Defender 110 (L663)
Car2020
Stunt vehicles in the Norway chase
The black Defenders chase the Land Cruiser down slopes, through water and into the forest, with the rolls filmed largely as practical stunts. Ten early vehicles were used, including a stunt car carrying VIN 007.
Driven by
Safin's men
Specs
Film specification based on Defender X: 3.0 L turbo straight-six, four-wheel drive
Sources: Jaguar Land Rover: New Defender faces toughest test · Jaguar Land Rover: No Time to Die charity auction
Six Sport SVRs were supplied for the chasePhoto: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
Car
High-performance SUV in the Norwegian convoy
Six Range Rover Sport SVRs were supplied for the high-speed cross-country chase. The muscular SUVs support the Defenders and pressure Bond's older Land Cruiser on roads and rough ground.
Driven by
Safin's men
Specs
5.0 L supercharged V8, 567 bhp, 176 mph
Sources: Jaguar Land Rover: No Time to Die charity auction · Jaguar Land Rover SVO: Range Rover Sport SVR output
Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Other2020
Motorcycles in the Norwegian forest pursuit
Tiger 900 motorcycles form part of the mobile team encircling Bond in the forest. The Rally Pro base was chosen for its long-travel suspension and off-road capability.
Driven by
Safin's men
Specs
888 cc triple, 93.9 bhp, 64.2 lb-ft
Sources: Triumph: James Bond partnership · Triumph: Tiger 900 Bond Edition
Nomi drives the DBS SuperleggeraPhoto: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Car2019
Nomi's field car
Nomi drives the modern DBS and carries Madeleine and Mathilde to safety after the island mission. It places a contemporary, exceptionally powerful Aston Martin alongside the classic DB5 and V8.
Driven by
Nomi
Specs
5.2 L twin-turbo V12, 715 bhp, 211 mph
Sources: Aston Martin: No Time to Die 007 editions · Aston Martin: DBS Superleggera launch and specifications
The early Valhalla concept appears in the MI6 laboratoryPhoto: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aston Martin Valhalla concept (AM-RB 003)
Car2019
Concept car in the Q-DAR laboratory
The Valhalla concept, then still called AM-RB 003, appears in the MI6 laboratory wind tunnel and is not driven. Aston Martin later changed the production project substantially, so figures for the later road car are not applied to the screen vehicle.
Sources: Aston Martin: Pebble Beach 2021 Bond display · Aston Martin: No Time to Die campaign
Cessna A185F Skywagon
Aircraft
Floatplane used to transfer Obruchev
After the SPECTRE party, the floatplane takes Bond and Obruchev from the Cuban harbour to Leiter's trawler. The aircraft carried the fictional registration 2-GDDC for the flying sequences.
Driven by
Paloma
Sources: IMPDb: No Time to Die · Movie-Locations.com: No Time to Die
An RAF C-17 carries Bond and Nomi towards Safin's islandPhoto: Balon Greyjoy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III
Aircraft2010
Carrier aircraft for Bond, Nomi and the submersible glider
Bond and Nomi depart the supposed Norwegian NATO base aboard an RAF C-17 bound for the island. The production used real aircraft ZZ177 at RAF Brize Norton, launching the submersible glider from its cargo bay.
Driven by
Royal Air Force
Specs
four Pratt & Whitney F117 turbofans, 100,000 lb payload over 4,500 miles
Sources: Royal Air Force: Armed Forces in No Time to Die · IMPDb: No Time to Die
Q Branch Tauchfähiger Gleiter
Aircraft
Fictional air-and-underwater vehicle
The folded glider is dropped from the C-17, deploys its wings and dives below the surface near the island. It is a Q Branch craft designed for the story with no production counterpart.
Driven by
James Bond and Nomi
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · IMPDb: No Time to Die
HMS Dragon appears during the missile strike on Safin's islandPhoto: Andrew Thomas from Shrewsbury, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Royal Navy HMS Dragon (D35), Type 45
Boat
Launches the missiles at Safin's island
The air-defence destroyer appears at sea as the missiles authorised by M destroy Safin's facility. The real HMS Dragon is identifiable by the red Welsh dragon on her bow and was filmed with Royal Navy support.
Driven by
Royal Navy
Specs
Type 45 air-defence destroyer, about 8,000 tonnes, over 29 knots
Sources: Royal Navy: HMS Dragon · Royal Air Force: Armed Forces in No Time to Die

Gadgets

Production example of the DB5 put through its paces in MateraPhoto: Alexandre Prévot · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
DB5 defence systems
Bond's DB5 carries bullet-resistant bodywork and glass, M134 miniguns behind the headlights, a smoke screen, digital plates and a rear mini-mine dispenser.
Sources: 007.com: Aston Martin DB5 · 007.com: No Time to Die
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M with EMP
Q equips Bond's titanium watch with an electromagnetic pulse that disables nearby electronics and neutralises Primo in the finale.
Sources: 007.com: First look at Omega in No Time to Die · 007.com: No Time to Die
Puck bomb
The flat adhesive charge uses a timer and opens an entry into Safin's facility for Bond and Nomi.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die
Bionic eye
Primo's artificial eye transmits vision and sound, lets Blofeld oversee the SPECTRE gathering remotely and can be tracked by Q.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · 007.com: Paloma in Profile
Q-DAR tracking
Q's system visualises people and electronic signals inside Safin's underground complex and supports the assault team remotely.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die
Project Heracles
The nanobot weapon developed under M is programmed for genetic target profiles, spreads by touch and remains permanently active in the body.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die · BBFC: No Time to Die
The Walther PPK remains Bond's signature sidearmPhoto: Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Walther PPK
Bond's compact service pistol returns as his signature sidearm alongside several larger field weapons.
Sources: 007.com: No Time to Die

Production and trivia

The film was officially launched at GoldenEye in Jamaica, Ian Fleming's former home, on 25 April 2019. Principal photography began there on 28 April and ended at Pinewood on 25 October 2019.
Danny Boyle and writer John Hodge left the project over creative differences in 2018. Cary Joji Fukunaga took over and became the first American to direct an Eon Bond film.
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Fukunaga developed the story, after which Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked on dialogue, character and humour. She is only the second woman after Johanna Harwood to receive a screenplay credit on a Bond film.
No Time to Die was the first Bond film to use IMAX cameras for selected sequences.
Daniel Craig had suggested to Barbara Broccoli after Casino Royale that his version of Bond should die at the end of his run. The 25th Eon film is the first in the official cinema series to do so.
Aston Martin engineered eight lightweight DB5 stunt replicas in just five months, while two classic cars were used for close-ups.
To give the tyres grip on Matera's smooth paving during the chase, the stunt team spread 8,400 US gallons of fizzy drink across the streets.
The finale set a Guinness record for the largest amount of high explosives detonated in a single film take, equivalent to 136.4 kilograms of TNT.
Daniel Craig injured his ankle while filming in Jamaica in May 2019 and required surgery. Weeks later, a controlled explosion damaged Pinewood's 007 Stage and slightly injured a crew member.
The release moved from 2019 to September 2021 after Boyle's departure and several COVID-19 postponements. The world premiere took place at the Royal Albert Hall on 28 September 2021.
Hans Zimmer replaced Dan Romer as composer during post-production; Steve Mazzaro produced the score and Johnny Marr played guitar.
At 18, Billie Eilish was the youngest artist to perform a Bond theme. The song won the 2021 Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media before the film itself was released.
The title song also won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Original Song; the film was additionally nominated for sound and visual effects.
Against a $250 million budget reported by The Numbers, the film grossed $774,153,007 worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. The Numbers records a lower worldwide total of $758,929,771.
The German version was produced by Interopa Film in Berlin. Klaus Bickert wrote the dialogue script and Axel Malzacher directed, with Christoph Cierpka handling Blofeld's passages.